The Storyof Moses

Hidden in a Basket

Moses in his basket

When Moses was born the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt.
Pharaoh was afraid of them because he thought they might take over
his country. He ordered that all Hebrew baby boys be killed at birth
so that they would not grow up and fight against him. To save Moses
his mother made a plan. She hid him in a basket by the side of the
River Nile.

Moses is Rescued

Moses is found

Moses' sister Miriam watched over him until Pharaoh's
daughter came to the river to wash. She found Moses in his basket.
Miriam told her she knew a woman who could be a nurse for the baby.
It was his mother. Pharaoh's daughter took him back to live with
her as though he were her son.

God Speaks to Moses

The burning bush

Moses grew up as an Egyptian prince, but he never
forgot he was a Hebrew. One day Moses lost his temper and killed
an Egyptian who had beaten a Hebrew slave to death. He had to run
away to another land. God spoke to him from a burning bush and told
him he must go back and free the Hebrews from slavery.

The Ten Plagues

Moses warns Pharaoh

Moses went to Pharaoh to ask him to set the Hebrews
free. Pharaoh did not want to lose his slaves. He would not let
them go, because they worked on his grand buildings. Awful things
began to happen in Egypt. There were ten plagues. Before each one,
Moses had warned Pharaoh what would happen. Moses told him the disasters
had been sent by God.

The Hebrews are Freed

Marking the doorposts

The last plague was the worst. The eldest son in every
Egyptian family, including Pharaoh's, died. God had warned Moses
to mark the doorposts of all Hebrew houses so that Hebrew boys would
be safe. Pharaoh was so upset by losing his son that he said the
Hebrews could leave Egypt.

A Change of Mind

The bread had not risen

The Hebrews knew they must leave Egypt quickly. They
needed food to take with them. There was no time to let the bread
rise before it was cooked. They had to take the dough as it was.

Pharaoh changed his mind again and sent his army after them to bring
them back.

Moses Parts the Sea

Parting of the Red Sea

The army chased the Hebrews to the banks of the Red
Sea. They would have been trapped but a miracle happened. God told
Moses to lift up his rod and as he did so the waters parted to make
a dry path. They were able to make their escape.

The Hebrews are Saved

The path disappeared

When all the Hebrews were safely at the other shore,
Moses lifted up his rod again and the waters of the sea closed on
Pharaoh's army who had been chasing them. God had saved the Hebrews.

God Leads the Way

Hungry in the desert

Even though the Hebrews were free, they were still
in the desert. They wanted to find a land called Canaan which God
had promised them. The journey was long and they soon ran out of
food. They were very hungry and blamed Moses for taking them out
of Egypt. Moses told them that God would give them food.

Food and Water

Water in the desert

God told Moses, "I will give the people food."
The next day the ground was covered with a white food which tasted
like honey. Moses called this food manna. God also sent flocks of
birds called quails that they cooked and ate. When their water ran
out, God told Moses to strike a rock with his rod. As he did so
water rushed out and they all had enough to drink.

Mount Sinai

Thunder and lightning

After three months of travelling the Hebrews came
to the foot of Mount Sinai. God called Moses to meet him on the
mountain. As he climbed there was thunder and lightning. When he
was up the mountain God gave Moses ten laws which told the people
how to live.

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments

These Ten Commandments were written on two tablets of stone. Moses
stayed so long on the mountain that the people waiting at the foot
of the mountain grew angry. They decided to make another God for
themselves. It was a golden calf.

The Golden Calf

The Golden Calf

When Moses returned he was shocked to see the people
dancing and worshipping the golden calf. He broke the tablets God
had given him and destroyed the golden calf. God forgave his people
for worshipping the statue and told Moses to cut two more tablets
of stone.

God's Laws

The Ten Commandments

Moses took the stone tablets up the mountain and God
gave him the Ten Commandments again. When he came down all the people
listened to Moses as he told them what God had said. Moses promised
God that the Hebrews would keep all of the Commandments.